West Ham United are back in pre-season training at Chadwell Heath with Avram Grant meeting his players for the first time.
The new manager gathered the squad together for an 11am meeting out on the first-team pitch before addressing them all as a group. With all wearing the club's new Macron training range, it was a chance to speak about the aims for the weeks ahead as the club prepares for a busy schedule of summer warm-up matches.
With the sun shining, Grant was joined by coaching staff Paul Groves, Kevin Keen, David Coles and Alex Dyer, with all the first team involved except for internationals Robert Green, Matthew Upson, Jonathan Spector, Scott Parker and Valon Behrami. Among those present was Luis Boa Morte, who has returned after agreeing a new two-year contract extension, and new recruit Thomas Hitzlsperger.
The Germany midfielder had already undergone the first stage of his testing in the indoor sports hall. Others to arrive early included Benni McCarthy and Kieron Dyer - both a regular sight at the training ground for the past fortnight - Mark Noble, Alessandro Diamanti and Carlton Cole. Young shot-stoppers Marek Stech and Peter Kurucz also met goalkeeping coach Coles for the first time.
The players' testing regime under the supervision of Andy Rolls was staggered over the course of the day, with the players being videotaped by two different cameras during the sessions. Cole was one of the first to greet Hitzlsperger, with the pair knowing each other from a season together at Aston Villa, and the banter was soon flowing as the fitness staff put the players through their paces.
